Since its inception, Apache Kafka has set a benchmark in the stream processing domain with its outstanding design and powerful capabilities. It not on

Innovation in Shared Storage Makes Kafka Great Again

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2024-05-15 04:00:03

Since its inception, Apache Kafka has set a benchmark in the stream processing domain with its outstanding design and powerful capabilities. It not only defined modern stream processing architectures but also provided unparalleled abilities for real-time data stream processing and analysis through its unique distributed log abstraction. Kafka's success lies in its ability to meet the high throughput and low latency data processing needs of businesses of all sizes, forging an incredibly rich Kafka ecosystem and becoming the de facto industry standard.

However, as cloud computing and cloud-native technologies rapidly advance, Kafka faces increasing challenges. Traditional storage architectures are struggling to meet the demands for better cost efficiency and flexibility in cloud environments, prompting a reevaluation of Kafka's storage model. Tiered storage was once seen as a potential solution, which aimed to reduce costs and extend the lifespan of data by layering storage across different mediums. However, this approach has not fully addressed Kafka's pain points and has instead increased system complexity and operational challenges.

In the context of this new era, with the maturation of cloud computing and phenomenal cloud services like S3, we believe that shared storage is the "right remedy" for addressing the original pain points of Kafka. Through an innovative shared storage architecture, we offer a storage solution that surpasses Tiered Storage and Freight Clusters, allowing Kafka to continue leading the development of stream systems in the cloud era. We[10] replaced Kafka's storage layer with a shared stream storage repository using a separation of storage and compute approach, reusing 100% of its computation layer code, ensuring full compatibility with the Kafka API protocol and ecosystem. By integrating Apache Kafka's storage layer with object storage, we fully leverage the technological and cost benefits of shared storage, thoroughly resolving the original issues of cost and elasticity faced by Kafka.